Restaurants & Bars

Rhode Island's Only TGI Friday's Closes

The Warwick TGI Friday's was the chain's only Rhode Island location. Ruby Tuesday and Outback Steakhouse also recently closed in the area.

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With no more TGI Friday's restaurants in Rhode Island, the closest is in Seekonk, Massachusetts.
With no more TGI Friday's restaurants in Rhode Island, the closest is in Seekonk, Massachusetts. (Rachel Nunes/Patch)

WARWICK, RI — A few hours after unexpectedly closings its doors, all signs were removed from the exterior of Rhode Island's only TGI Friday's restaurant. A sign posted on the restaurant's front door Sunday was the only indicator of the closure, which came without warning.

"We regret to inform you that as of February 23, this TGI Fridays location has closed," the signs read. "We are extremely grateful to our loyal guests and staff. We invite you to visit our other TGI Fridays at 1105 Fall River Avenue, Seekonk, Massachusetts, and look forward to serving you there."

By early Monday afternoon, crews removed all signs and awnings bearing the chain's name from the building. The standalone sign at the entrance to the plaza on Centerville Road is the only remaining branding. Inside the building, boxes could be seen piled on tables.

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Signs posted on the door of the Bald Hill Road TGI Fridays announced the restaurant's sudden closure. (Rachel Nunes/Patch)
In a statement, TGI Friday's management said the closure was "a strategic decision based solely on business demands."
"We continually review our restaurant portfolio performance," the statement said. "Impacted restaurant managers and crew members were offered positions within our other restaurants." Several chain restaurants closed in the Warwick area in recent years, including Outback Steakhouse in East Greenwich earlier this month and the nearby Ruby Tuesday in 2018, according to WJAR.
This standalone sign is the only remaining branding at the now-closed TGI Fridays restaurant in Warwick. (Rachel Nunes/Patch)
All signs and logos have been removed from the now-closed TGI Fridays restaurant in Warwick. (Rachel Nunes/Patch)

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